The Week in Pop: My favorite TV, movies, music, etc.

Best TV show I saw: Caprica. Whoa, did you catch that mid-season finale? (If not, watch it online.) The more I tuned in to the Syfy series, the bigger fan I became. Now I can't wait to see what the heck became of these characters. What a cliffhanger.I also liked: United States of Tara, Lost, Breaking Bad (glad it's back!), Funny or Die PresentsNot so good: I'm still watching Gossip Girl, but I don't know why! (Where's Wallace Shawn when you need him?) Life Unexpected has also been disappointing ... not a good time for the CW.

Best movie I watched: Can I give you a play instead? I went to the stage adaptation of Phoebe Gloeckner's Diary of a Teenage Girl, and it was good -- so good that Gloeckner was there, and she'd already seen it four times. The set is simple and casual with a bed placed in the center of the theater (I sat on a pillow), but the production uses multimedia in a creative way, so at some moments Gloeckner's artwork flashes on surrounding screens. Marielle Heller adapted the work and stars, and Nell Mooney is a standout as her best friend Kimmie. (Apparently, she had a brief stint on As the World Turns. I want to see more of her.) Anyway, definitely read the book first. If you're in NYC soon, check it out.I also watched: This isn't current at all, but I watched To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) the other night, and that movie is insane. Willem Dafoe, Dean Stockwell and John Turturro? Full-frontal William Petersen? A soundtrack by Wang Chung? Had to look up Ebert's review afterward (and he liked it).

Best thing I read: On the opposite end of the spectrum, I dug New York magazine's long profile of Lady Gaga.I'm also reading: I don't like to just recommend magazines, but the other night I was reading Filter with Beck and Charlotte Gainsbourg on the cover.

Best thing I heard: Sadly, the best thing I heard is no longer available. Yesterday MC Chris posted a great track on his website for April Fool's Day -- the whole thing was a tribute to Twin Peaks, and I listened several times because the lyrics were so clever. (Sample verse: "Was it Audrey, oh so tawdry, freshly squeezed little tease/Was the baddie, Audrey's daddy, busy buying Twin Peaks/Was it Leland, his attorney, always straightening his tie/Was it Norma -- she's a killer -- I'm still waitin' for pie") Chris, if you're reading this, please post it again!I'm also listening to: As I mentioned earlier, I saw The xx the other night at the Spin magazine event -- they sounded so good, even as a duo (without the keyboardist). I'm enjoying the new Horse Feathers record, out April 20. Still liking the new one from Holly Golightly, too.

Please share your own weekly picks in the comments -- then take yourself to lunch.

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About Whitney Matheson

Whitney has been writing about pop culture for USA TODAY since 1999, when Pop Candy began as a weekly column. Her interests include music festivals, mustaches, Lost, comic books and Andy Warhol. She lives in New York City. More about Whitney | E-mail Whitney